Controlling the retention in capillary LC with solvents, temperature, and electric fields

Liquid chromatography at the university of pardubice: a tribute to Professor Pavel Jandera

Pavel Jandera was a world-leading analytical chemist who devoted his entire professional life to research in the field of high-performance liquid chromatography. During all his scientific career, he worked at the Department of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Pardubice, Czech Republic. His greatest contribution to the field of liquid chromatography was the introduction of a comprehensive theory of liquid chromatography with programmed elution conditions. He was also involved in the research of gradient elution techniques in preparative chromatography, modeling of retention and selectivity in various phase systems, preparation of organic monolithic microcolumns and, last but not least, in the development of theory and practical applications of two-dimensional liquid chromatography, mainly in the comprehensive form. In this review article, we have tried to capture the highlights of his scientific career and provide the readers with a detailed overview of Pavel Jandera's contribution to the evolution of separation sciences. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Improving the Sensitivity, Resolution, and Peak Capacity of Gradient Elution in Capillary Liquid Chromatography with Large-Volume Injections by Using Temperature-Assisted On-Column Solute Focusing

Capillary HPLC (cLC) with gradient elution is the separation method of choice for the fields of proteomics and metabolomics. This is due to the complementary nature of cLC flow rates and electrospray or nanospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The small column diameters result in good mass sensitivity. Good concentration sensitivity is also possible by injection of relatively large volumes of solution and relying on solvent-based solute focusing. However, if the injection volume is too large or solutes are poorly retained during injection, volume overload occurs which leads to altered peak shapes, decreased sensitivity, and lower peak capacity. Solutes that elute early even with the use of a solvent gradient are especially vulnerable to this problem. In this paper, we describe a simple, automated instrumental method, temperature-assisted on-column solute focusing (TASF), that is capable of focusing large volume injections of small molecules and peptides under gradient conditions. By injecting a large sample volume while cooling a short segment of the column inlet at subambient temperatures, solutes are concentrated into narrow bands at the head of the column. Rapidly raising the temperature of this segment of the column leads to separations with less peak broadening in comparison to solvent focusing alone. For large volume injections of both mixtures of small molecules and a bovine serum albumin tryptic digest, TASF improved the peak shape and resolution in chromatograms. TASF showed the most dramatic improvements with shallow gradients, which is particularly useful for biological applications. Results demonstrate the ability of TASF with gradient elution to improve the sensitivity, resolution, and peak capacity of volume overloaded samples beyond gradient compression alone. Additionally, we have developed and validated a double extrapolation method for predicting retention factors at extremes of temperature and mobile phase composition. Using this method, the effects of TASF can be predicted, allowing determination of the usefulness of this technique for a particular application.

Temperature-assisted on-column solute focusing: a general method to reduce pre-column dispersion in capillary high performance liquid chromatography

Solvent-based on-column focusing is a powerful and well known approach for reducing the impact of pre-column dispersion in liquid chromatography. Here we describe an orthogonal temperature-based approach to focusing called temperature-assisted on-column solute focusing (TASF). TASF is founded on the same principles as the more commonly used solvent-based method wherein transient conditions are created that lead to high solute retention at the column inlet. Combining the low thermal mass of capillary columns and the temperature dependence of solute retention TASF is used effectively to compress injection bands at the head of the column through the transient reduction in column temperature to 5°C for a defined 7mm segment of a 6cm long 150μm I.D. column. Following the 30s focusing time, the column temperature is increased rapidly to the separation temperature of 60°C releasing the focused band of analytes. We developed a model to simulate TASF separations based on solute retention enthalpies, focusing temperature, focusing time, and column parameters. This model guides the systematic study of the influence of sample injection volume on column performance. All samples have solvent compositions matching the mobile phase. Over the 45-1050nL injection volume range evaluated, TASF reduces the peak width for all solutes with k' greater than or equal to 2.5, relative to controls. Peak widths resulting from injection volumes up to 1.3 times the column fluid volume with TASF are less than 5% larger than peak widths from a 45nL injection without TASF (0.07 times the column liquid volume). The TASF approach reduced concentration detection limits by a factor of 12.5 relative to a small volume injection for low concentration samples. TASF is orthogonal to the solvent focusing method. Thus, it can be used where on-column focusing is required, but where implementation of solvent-based focusing is difficult.

Cross-linker effects on the separation efficiency on (poly)methacrylate capillary monolithic columns. Part I. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography

We synthesized 8 polymethacrylate monolithic capillary columns using laurylmethacrylate functional monomer and various cross-linking monomers differing in the polarity and size. The efficiency of monolithic columns for low-molecular compounds significantly improved with increasing number of repeat non-polar methylene groups in the cross-linker molecules, correlating with greater proportion of small pores with size less than 50 nm. The best efficiency with HETP=25 μm for alkylbenzenes was achieved for columns prepared using hexamethylene dimethacrylate (HEDMA). Columns prepared with polar (poly)oxyethylene dimethacrylate cross-linkers show also improved efficiency with increasing chain length and generally better performance in comparison to the (poly)methylene dimethacrylate cross-linkers of comparable size, however with less apparent effects of the chain lengths on the pore distribution. The monolithic columns prepared with tetraoxyethylene dimethacrylate (TeEDMA) showed the best efficiency of all the columns tested, corresponding to HETP=15 μm (approx. 70,000 theoretical plates/m), show excellent column-to-column reproducibility with standard deviations of 2.5% in retention times, good permeability and low mass transfer resistance, so that is suitable for fast separation of low-molecular compounds in 2 min or less. By modification of the fused-silica capillary inner walls pre-treatment procedure, very good long-term stability was achieved even in 0.5 mm i.d. capillary format. The TeEDMA column can be also used for size-exclusion chromatography of lower non-polar synthetic polymers, whereas it is less suitable for separations of proteins than the HEDMA column.

Chromatographic benefits of elevated temperature for the proteomic analysis of membrane proteins

Integral membrane proteins (IMPs) perform crucial cellular functions and are the primary targets for most pharmaceutical agents. However, the hydrophobic nature of their membrane-embedded domains and their intimate association with lipids make them difficult to handle. Numerous proteomic platforms that include LC separations have been reported for the high-throughput profiling of complex protein samples. However, there are still many challenges to overcome for proteomic analyses of IMPs, especially as compared to their soluble counterparts. In particular, considerations for the technical challenges associated with chromatographic separations are just beginning to be investigated. Here, we review the benefits of using elevated temperatures during LC for the proteomic analysis of complex membrane protein samples.

Recent applications in nanoliquid chromatography

Since its first introduction by Karlsson and Novotny in 1988 nano-LC has emerged as a complementary and/or competitive separation method to conventional HPLC, offering several advantages such as higher efficiency, ability to work with minute sample sizes and lower consumption of mobile phases, and better compatibility with MS, etc. Although its use was not so extended initially, in the last years new and interesting applications have appeared which deserve to be carefully considered. The aim of this review is therefore to provide an updated and critical survey of different nano-LC applications in analytical chemistry.

Can the theory of gradient liquid chromatography be useful in solving practical problems?

Advances in the theory of gradient liquid chromatography and their practical impacts are reviewed. Theoretical models describing retention in reversed-phase, normal-phase and ion-exchange modes are compared. Main attention is focused on practically useful models described by two- or three-parameter equations fitting the experimental data in the range of mobile phase composition utilized for sample migration during gradient elution. The applications of theory for gradient method development, optimization and transfer are addressed. The origins and possibilities for overcoming possible pitfalls are discussed, including the effects of the instrumental dwell volume, uptake of mobile phase components on the column and size of the sample molecules. Special attention is focused on gradient separations of large molecules.

Elevated temperature and temperature programming in conventional liquid chromatography – fundamentals and applications

Temperature, as a powerful variable in conventional LC is discussed from a fundamental point of view and illustrated with applications from the author's laboratory. Emphasis is given to the influence of temperature on speed, selectivity, efficiency, detectability, and mobile phase composition (green chromatography). The problems accompanying the use of elevated temperature and temperature programming in LC are reviewed and solutions are described. The available stationary phases for high temperature operation are summarized and a brief overview of recent applications reported in the literature is given.

Simultaneous analysis of cationic, anionic, and neutral compounds using monolithic CEC columns

A new capillary electrochromatography (CEC) column for the simultaneous analysis of cationic, neutral, and anionic compounds using CEC-ESI-MS is described. Three different silica monolith columns were prepared by changing the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) contents for comparison of the separation property of these columns. Different separation programs were used for the simultaneous separation of different charged compounds under the same conditions. The column prepared with 80 mg of PEG separated typical compounds within 15 min using 1 M formic acid as the electrolyte. The analytes migrated in the order of cationic, neutral, and anionic compounds, which means that the migration order was mainly determined by the electrophoresis. The hydrodynamic flow by pressure from the inlet side was significant for a stable analysis to be achieved. The effect of the composition of the sheath liquid was also examined. All analytes (14 amino acids, thiourea, urea, citric acid, and ATP) were detectable when 1% acetic acid in 50% (v/v) methanol was used as the sheath liquid.

Solvent and temperature gradients in separation of synthetic oxyethylene-oxypropylene block (co)polymers using high-temperature liquid chromatography

Chromatographic behavior of synthetic block (co)oligomer samples (EO)n(PO)m(EO)n and (PO)n(EO)m(PO)n with different distribution of propylene oxide (PO) and ethylene oxide (EO) monomer units was investigated on three types of stationary phases on zirconium dioxide support: Zr-PS (polystyrene), Zr-carbon, and Zr-carbon C18. The effects of the distribution and sequence of the oxyethylene and oxypropylene monomer units on the chromatographic retention depend on the type of the stationary phase, but are strongly affected by the organic modifier (methanol or ACN) in aqueous-organic mobile phase. Special attention was focused on the influence of the mobile-phase composition on the separation according to the EO and PO distribution. Zirconia-based columns are stable at elevated temperatures and can be used in high-temperature LC (HTLC); hence, we investigated the temperature effects on the chromatographic behavior up to 90 degrees C. The applications of solvent and temperature gradients were compared on the zirconia stationary phases in the RP mode.

Development of a large-volume, membrane-based injection system for gradient elution micro-liquid chromatography

A membrane unit which can be used to inject a large volume of sample solution was developed to facilitate reproducible and accurate gradient elution in micro-high-performance liquid chromatography (micro-HPLC). Since the membrane unit has a very low void volume, it facilitates the effective concentration of analytes in large sample volumes. Gradient elution micro-HPLC with the membrane unit allowed the efficient separation of n-alkyl benzoates, used as test samples, in a short time without marked gradient delay. In this study, the membrane unit could be loaded with up to 50 microg of n-hexyl benzoate, and more than 500 microL of sample solution could be applied. In about 50 chromatographic runs, the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the relative retention time of n-hexyl benzoate with respect to methyl benzoate was 0.530%.

A practical approach to transferring linear gradient elution methods

Attempts to theoretically address the problems involved in transferring linear gradient elution methods have been somewhat ad hoc due to the simplifying assumptions usually made in conventional gradient elution theory. Until now, all equations based on the k* parameter of linear gradient elution theory used as the basis for predicting the separation selectivity have not explicitly included the effect of the dwell volume (VD). Using an exact equation for predicting k*, that is, one which fully accounts in an a priori fashion for VD, we find a set of simple yet exact equations which unequivocally must be satisfied to transfer an optimized linear gradient elution method from one system (column or instrument or both) to another. These relationships absolutely mandate that a change in the instrument dwell volume requires a proportional change in the column volume; in turn, a change in the column volume requires a proportional change in the flow rate and/or gradient time to maintain a constant gradient steepness. Although we are not the first to suggest these guidelines, this work provides a complete theoretical foundation for these exact guidelines for the maintenance of gradient selectivity for the case of transferring a linear gradient elution method between different columns packed with the same particles and/or between different instruments.